HYDERABAD COMIC CON, held alongside DreamHack India, concluded its vibrant three-day run from 31 October to 2 November at HITEX Exhibition Centre, drawing together fans of comics, anime, gaming, cosplay, and wider pop-culture fandoms.
The event welcomed over 40,000 attendees, including more than 400 cosplayers. Organised by Comic Con India under the NODWIN Gaming banner, the convention featured international guests including writer and executive producer Mike Costa, and artist J. Gonzo, alongside 17 comic artists and creators, nine performers, and over 80 exhibitors from across the country.
Maruti Suzuki entertained visitors with a reflex-testing game and its striking Maruti Suzuki Arena showcase. Crunchyroll’s booth quickly became a fan-favourite, thanks to an all-day anime playlist that energised the floor. Meanwhile, Android Land hosted PANFEST, where BGMI enthusiasts battled across open lobbies, a media release said.
Amar Chitra Katha and Tinkle debuted a special VR experience, immersing fans in their celebrated story universes. Other attractions included the Running Man Rage Room, Predator Badlands Zone, and Zootopia 2 Zone, each offering unique interactive escapes.
DreamHack India also marked its sixth anniversary, featuring retro gaming setups, BYOD zones, KO Fight Night, and Rapid & Blitz chess tournaments. In Tekken 8, KMR YoshiKiller secured victory and a prize of Rs 1,00,000, while JLQ Hallmark triumphed in Super Smash Bros, winning Rs 40,000.
Following the Hyderabad edition, Comic Con India will debut its first-ever Guwahati event on 22–23 November, expanding the celebration into India’s Northeast.
Comic Con India CEO Shefali Johnson said, “Hyderabad is the first stop of this season of Comic Con India, and the response here, as always, has been absolutely phenomenal. The energy and enthusiasm that fans brought to the event is something we always hoped for. People of all ages were celebrating their love for pop culture. There were kids who dressed as characters like Shinchan, Ironman, Zoro and more. Whether it was meeting their favorite artists, striking poses with beloved cosplay characters, or diving into the many immersive experience zones, the city truly came alive with excitement, further highlighting the cultural phenomenon that Comic Con India is.”
NODWIN Gaming co-founder & MD Akshat Rathee added, “We have once again brought pop culture and gaming together like never before. This collaboration truly embodies NODWIN Gaming’s vision of creating diverse entertainment touchpoints for the youth, from comic book launches and spectacular cosplay showcases to live music, comedy acts, esports tournaments, open-for-all gaming zones, chess, retro, and tabletop experiences. We also had Hyderabad’s very own Syed Bashaar and Vivek Muralidharan deliver performances that perfectly captured the city’s vibrant spirit and cultural energy, adding a special local flavor to the experience. We are deeply grateful to our amazing community, partners, and sponsors for their unwavering support and the overwhelming response from Hyderabad. Your passion drives us to keep curating bigger, better, and more immersive experiences every year. See you next season for an even more epic edition!”
